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Sophia Ankel
Jun 16, 2019
Donald Trump has reignited his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan after calling him a "disaster" in response to the latest stabbing incidents in the capital.
Responding to a tweet by right-wight commentator Katie Hopkins about the "stab-city" violence, the president said that the capital would need a new mayor "ASAP".
He followed this up with another tweet, calling Khan a "national disgrace who is destroying the City of London".
But the president's comments did not go unnoticed as many flocked to Twitter to remind Trump that London's crime rate is much lower than that of any American city – and they came prepared with facts.
Even Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn commented on the president's tweet, saying Trump is using the "tragedy of people being murdered to attack the Mayor".
The series of tweets came in light of three stabbings in less than 24 hours, with two teens killed within 15 minutes of each other in Wandsworth, south London and another incident occurring in Tower Hamlets on Saturday.
In 2018, the UK saw 1.8 murders per 100,000 people, a number that is fewer than New York, Austin and San Diego, according to the Huffington Post. Other states such as Baltimore show much worse figures, with a murder rate that is 31 times higher per capita.
There have also been 148 mass shootings in America in 2019 alone, killing a total of 149 people but nothing has been done about this yet.
A spokesman for Sadiq Khan said in response to Trump's tweets:
Sadiq is focusing on supporting London’s communities and over-stretched emergency services.
He has been in regular touch with senior Met police officers last night and throughout the day.
His thoughts are with the victims’ families. He is not going to waste his time responding to this sort of tweet.
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